Description

NCDOT is working to provide long-term solutions for the two breaches caused by Hurricane Irene in August 2011 along N.C. 12 on the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and in Rodanthe. This work is considered Phase II of the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project.

Latest News and Updates

N.C. 12 Update 2/20/13

NCDOT is hosting a series of public meetings in March to discuss the long-term solution for the section of N.C. 12 on Pea Island breached by Hurricane Irene in 2011.

The purpose of the meetings is to talk with citizens about the recently released Environmental Assessment. The document identifies the preferred alternative as the bridge within the existing easement and describes its potential impacts. The permanent bridge will be built where the temporary bridge now stands.

The EA also details changes in the environment since the 2010 Record of Decision was published for the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project.

March 2013 Public Meeting Handout

The public meetings will be held:

• March 11, 2013
  Dare County Administration Building
  954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo
• March 12, 2013
  Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center
  23186 Myrna Peters Road, Rodanthe
• March 13, 2013
  Ocracoke Community Center
  1009 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke

Each meeting is informal, and citizens are welcome to drop in at any time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Written comments on the EA must be submitted to NCDOT by Thursday, March 28, 2013.
Comments should be sent to:

Drew Joyner
Human Environment Section, NCDOT
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
djoyner@ncdot.gov

The EA, supporting technical reports and the maps that will be displayed at each of the public hearings can be found under the Environmental Documents section of this webpage.

Additional public hearings will be scheduled in the summer of 2013 to discuss the options for the Rodanthe breach site.

Project Background and Purpose

The process to implement long-term solutions for the two breaches on N.C. 12 is a continuation of work already under way as part of the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project.

Phase one of the project involves replacing the 2.7-mile bridge over Oregon Inlet, which is currently in the design stage. The project also includes an active coastal monitoring program that uses scientific data to determine what types of improvements are needed on N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe and when that work will occur.

Using this program, NCDOT is enacting phase two of the project, which will implement long-term solutions for the parts of N.C. 12 damaged by Hurricane Irene. These long-term fixes will replace the temporary fixes put in place immediately after the storm hit to restore traffic to the Outer Banks.

NCDOT met with a panel of coastal engineers and scientists in October 2011 to get their input on the department's future plans for N.C. 12. NCDOT has compiled a report of the key findings and recommendations provided about topics, which include:

• Changes in the coastal conditions resulting from Hurricane Irene;
• Potential long-term transportation options for the two breach sites; and
• Recommendations on future coastal studies for the northern end of Hatteras Island.

The department is using their input to help guide its decision-making process, regarding N.C. 12.

NCDOT met with citizens in Manteo, Rodanthe and Ocracoke in December 2011 and January 2012 to discuss possible design options for these long-term solutions.

The department continues to work diligently with its state and federal agency partners on the environmental work required to implement the permanent solutions at the two breach sites.

• On Pea Island, NCDOT is moving forward with its preferred alternative, building a permanent bridge within the existing easement where the temporary bridge is currently located. The department plans to award a contract for construction at the Pea Island breach in Summer 2013.
• In Rodanthe, the department is considering two options. The first one includes elevating N.C. 12 onto a bridge within the existing easement, which would end just north of the community center and not require beach nourishment. The second option is constructing an approximately 2.5-mile bridge that would extend into the Pamlico Sound and connect back to Rodanthe just north of the community center. NCDOT plans to award a contract for construction at the Rodanthe breach in Fall 2013.

Environmental Documents

Environmental Assessment for Pea Island Long-Term Improvements (Project B-2500A), February 2013:

• B-2500 Phase IIa EA

The EA refers to previous environmental documents that were completed for the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project, including the 2008 Final Environmental Impact Statement, 2010 Environmental Assessment and 2010 Record of Decision. Those documents can be found in the Archives section of the Bonner Bridge Replacement Project webpage.

Supporting Technical Reports to the EA:

• Ferry Alternative Analysis (January 2013)
• Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012)
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix A
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix B
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix C
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix D
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix E
  • Pamlico Sound Bridge Corridor Cost Analysis (October 2012) - Appendix F
• PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012)
  • PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012) - Appendix A
  • PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012) - Appendix B
  • PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012) - Appendix C
  • PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012) - Appendix D
  • PBC-TMP Phase II Peer Exchange Meeting Report (June 2012) - Appendix E

Public Hearing Maps for Pea Island Long-term Improvements (Project B-2500A), March 2013:

• Map - Page 1
• Map - Page 2

Project Photos

Before & After Photos

Place your mouse over the image below to see the contrast of each breach site before and after NCDOT made temporary repairs.

Project Videos

These videos highlight the work NCDOT did to restore traffic to the Outer Banks quickly after Hurricane Irene. The temporary fixes the department put in place after the storm hit helped reinstate the area’s economic lifeline.

Click on the thumbnail images to view each video.

Contact Information

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.